Highlights and images for 7 December 2016

Mexico

Summary


IISD Reporting Services - RCP at CBD COP 13

The theme for the Rio Conventions Pavilion (RCP) on Wednesday, 7 December, was Mainstreaming Biodiversity into Tourism and Fisheries Management. Presentations and discussions focused on showcasing solutions from islands and from other States, as tourism destinations and “biodiversity hotspots.” In the afternoon participants focused on integrating sustainable fisheries management into wider sustainable development frameworks including tourism.

The event was organized by the Global Islands Partnership (GLISPA), the CBD Secretariat and the Government of Mexico.

In the morning session participants considered ways to mainstream biodiversity into tourism development, tourism and biodiversity “Bright Spots,” with a discussion panel looking at progress and experiences from Mexico, Costa Rica and the British Virgin Islands. The use of IUCN’s Green List Standard for Protected Areas was also discussed. A subsequent panel considered different approaches to tourism and financing, including national conservation fund partnerships, the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund and other initiatives involving the private sector and NGOs.

After lunch the focus turned to the interaction between tourism and fisheries. The first panel discussed national approaches to sustainable tourism and fisheries, with presentations on initiatives from the Seychelles, Mexico’s islands, Belize and Indonesia, focusing on community participation and community right-based approaches. A second panel looked at regional and global approaches, including perspectives on tourism and fisheries in the context of sub-regional biodiversity strategies, the experience in the Caribbean Community states, and gender perspectives.

The day ended with an informal discussion session where participants shared ideas and experiences on the day’s topics.

IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage, daily reports and a summary report from RCP at CBD COP 13. A summary of the Rio Conventions Pavilion events is available in HTML and PDF.

Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth
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Opening Session

Kate Brown, Executive Director, Global Island Partnership (GLISPA)

Oliver Hillel, CBD Secretariat

Kedrick Pickering, Deputy Premier, British Virgin Islands

Alberto Pacheco Capella, UN Environment (UNEP)

Participants during the session

Session 1: Tourism

Discussion Panel 1: Tourism and Biodiversity Bright Spots

Panelists during the session

Trevor Sandwith, IUCN

Teresa Solis, Ministry of Tourism, Mexico

Eric Coppenger, African Wildlife Foundation

Audience members pose questions to the panel

Discussion Panel 2: Tourism and Financing

Panelists during the session

Geoffrey Bolan, CEO, Sustainable Travel International

Mae Adams, The Nature Conservancy (TNC)

Matt Jeffery, National Audubon Society

Yabanex Batista, Caribbean Biodiversity Fund

Robbie Bovino, TNC

Session 2: Tourism and Fisheries

Discussion Panel 1: Tourism and Fisheries - National Approaches

View of the panel during the session

Alain de Comarmond, Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, Seychelles

Spencer Thomas, Ambassador for Multilateral Environment Agreements, Grenada

Leonel Requena, UN Development Programme (UNDP)

Handoko Adi Susanto, Rare

Federico Méndez Sánchez, Island Ecology and Conservation Group (GECI)

Discussion Panel 2: Tourism and Fisheries - Regional and Global Approaches

Panel speakers during the session

Jamison Ervin, UNDP

Afrina Choudhury, WorldFish

Therese Yarde, Caribbean Community (CARICOM)

Around the Venue

Participants

Negotiating blocs
Caribbean Community
Non-state coalitions
NGOs